22 US states sue to block Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship

Twenty-two states in the United States on Tuesday filed a lawsuit to block President Donald Trump’s executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship in the country, the AP reported.

On Monday, shortly after being sworn in as the US president, Trump signed a series of executive orders including one to stop automatically granting citizenship to those born in the US in specific scenarios.

Legal consensus, however, broadly holds that the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees birthright citizenship.

The president on Monday directed federal agencies to refuse to recognise citizenship for children who were born in the country to mothers who are in the country illegally or are there legally on temporary visas, if the father is not a United States citizen or a green card holder.

A green card, officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, allows an individual to stay and work permanently in the United States.

The executive order would deny citizenship to children who are born on United States soil starting 30 days from the order, if at least one parent is not a United States citizen or a lawful permanent resident. This is unless a court stays the order.

The action was Trump’s election campaign promise.

Attorney generals of Democratic Party-ruled states and immigrant rights advocates assert that birthright citizenship is settled law and that the president…

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